Indicating device fob taximeters and the like



Dec. 15, 1 1,566,038

W. G. ORTH ET AL INDICAT ING DEVICE FOR TAXIMETERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V VE N TOPS .1 g 36 WILL/AM a. O/PTH, 650F615 h. 0495f ATTOFP/VE Y Dec- 15.

w. G. ORTH ET AL INDICATING DEVICE FOR TAXIMETERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1924 2 he ts-Sheet 2 w m N H a Patented Dec. 15, 1 925.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'wILLIAu G. mm

AND enonen 1:. new, or Darren, oino, ASBIGNOBS r0 011mm rum REGISTER oourmr, or DAYTON, 0x10.

ILl'DICATING DEVICE FOR TAXIMETERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 11, 1924i Serial lilo. 691,970.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. OJRTH and GEORGE H. DARST, both citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in thei county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful limprovements in Indicating Devices for Taximeters and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to indicating de vices for taximeters and the like. The ordinary taximeter is rovided with an exterior indicator or flag, t e position of which indicate's whether the cab is for hire or has been hired. The movement of this flag from one position to another controls the tare registering devices so that these devices are operative only when the flag is inits hired position. This flag is not readily visible at night and it is difiicult for a prospective passeng determine whether or not the flag of an approaching cab has been lowered, that is, moved to hired position. Further, taximeters are usually rovided with extras registerin devices or the purpose of registering c arges for additional assengers, luggage and the like. These evices are 8 necessarily manually operated and there is no means by which an inspector outside of the cab can determine whether or not the driver has registered on this extras re istering device the charges which shoul have 85 been made for extra passengers and luggage which he is carrying.

Una object of the present invention is to provide an automatically controlled indicator which will be readily visible from a 49 position outside of the cab to indicate the condition of registering devices within the taximeter.

-A further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated indicator having a plurality of designations t6 indicate-difierent conditions of the registering mechanism which will be mechanically operated through suitable connections with a register actuating device and the illumination of which will 59 be controlled b the flag.

A further o ject of the invention isto provide an'indicating device of this type which will be very simple in its construction and operation, inexpensiveto produce and er or an inspector on the sidewalk to which may be easily controlled from the registering device or 1ts operating mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accom anying drawin s Fig. 1 is a perspective 0 a taximeter e bodying our invention, showing the same mounted on a taxicab; Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly broken away of the extras re istering device and the ag operating mec anism; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View showing the extras registering device and the indicator in elevation; Fig. l is a section taken on the line 47-4 of Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the flag operatedgear train; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the flag controlled circuit breaker and closer; and Fi 7 is a diagram of the circuit for the illuminating device.

lin these drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of our invention and have shown the same as applied to'a taximeter of well known construction which, in the resent instance, is mounted on the bulkhea of a taxicab. It will be understood, however, that the mechanism may take various forms and that. it may be applied to taximeters of various kinds without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The taximeter as a whole is shown at l, in Fig. 1, and consists of a base 2 on which are mounted vupwardly extending frame memhea s 3, one only of which is here shown in Fig. 2. The. frame members and the arts carried thereby are enclosed in a cas mg 4; which is mounted on and rigidly secured to the base 2. The fare registering devices are not here shown as they are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention but it will be understood that these may be of the usual, or any suitable, charactor and they preferably operate according to both time and distance to compute and register the fare. These registerin devices are controlled in the usual mannerby a flag 5 which is mounted exteriorly of the casing l 4 for-movement from its elevated or for hire position, as shown in Fig. 1, to a lowered position, which lowered position indicates thatthe cab is hired. v The operation of the registering devices is controlled through a setting shaft 6 extending lengthwiseof the taximeter and operated by the flag 5. In

the present machine the flag is not mounted directly upon the-shaft 6, as is sometimes the case, but is mounted near the 0 posite side of the taximeter on a. stud shaft; journaled in and extending through the end wall of the casing 4. Secured to this shaft 7 is a gear 8 which is connected through gears 9 and 10 with a gear 11 rigidly secured to the setting shaft 6, whereby the movement of the flag is transmitted to the shaft 6.

The extras registering device may take any suitable form and may comprise either a visual indicator or a printing counter,.or both. In the present instance, the taximeter is a recording taximeter and we have therefore provided the same with both a visual indicator and a printing counter. The visual indicator is shown at 12 with an indicator wheel mounted on a shaft 13 and carrying the indications on' the periphery thereof. Arranged adjacent to the visual indicator and preferably mounted on a shaft 14, which extends parallel with the shaft'13, is the printing counter 15. The indicator 12 is provided with a gear 16 and the printing counter 15 is provided with a gear 17, the two gears being connected one to the other by a pinion 18, so that they will move in unison and corresponding'design-ations thereon will be in indicating and printing positions simultaneously. This extras registering device is 0 rated manually and, in, theparticular taximeter here illustrated, a pawl and rachet operating mechanism 'is employed. Rigidly secured to the visual indicator wheel .12. 1s a rachet wheel 19 with" which cooperates a pawl I 20 pivotally mounted at the free end of a lever 21 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 22. A spring 23 acts on the lever 21 to move the pawl,

20 downwardly'and thus. cause it to actuate the ratchet wheel 19 and advance the extras registering device one step, that is, a distance corresponding to one unit of registration. The shaft 22 on which the awl carrier or lever 21 is mounted has 'rotata ly mounted thereon a hub 24 (Figs. 2' and 5) which is provided with a projection or cam finger 25. The camfinger 2g is arranged to engage one arm 26 of"; a two arm lever 27 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 28 and is held in its normal osition by a spring 29. A second arm, 30, of the two arm lever, is ar:anged to engage a finger 31 rigidly secured to the shaft 22 so that ,when the arm 26 is moved downwardly by the cam the arm 30 will press the finger 31 downwardly and thereby -rock the shaft 22and elevate the pawl carrier '21 and pawl 20. As thecam continues its movement. it will pass off the end of the arm 26, thereby releasing thefshaft'andpermitting the pawl to be moveddownwardly by the s ring 23. Any suitable means may be providzed for rotating the cam 25 and, as here shown, a shaft 32 extends through the .end wall, of the casing nueepaa and isconnected at its inner end with the hub 24. and is provided at its outer end with an actuating handle or knob 33. It will be apparent that each complete rotation of the knob 33 will cause the extras reglstering device to be advanced one step. The several parts of the taximeter mechanism above described are parts of a well known taximeter and do not form any part of the present invention except in so far as they enter into combination with the indicating devices and their controlling mechanism.

A single indicating device is provided for indicating both the position of the flag and the condition of the extras registering device, that is, for indicatingwhether any extras have been registered and if so how many. This indicator preferably consists of a casing having an opening in the wall thereof and within which is mounted a movable member having thereon a plurality of designations, and this member is operativelyconnected with the extras registering device so that the designation exposed through the sight opening will correspond to the position of the extras registering device and therefore indicate what, if any, registrations have been effected on the extras registering device. In the present device, the main casing 4 of the taximeter is provided with an upwardly extending portion 34 which forms in effect a separate casing and which is provided in both its front and rear walls with sight openings 35. Mounted within this casing 34 is amovable structure which carries the several designations. In

the present construction,.we have shown this movable structure as comprising two disks,

36 and 37, (Fig. 3) both rigidly mounted on ashaft 38 WhlOh'iS journaled in a suitable bearing 39 supported in the casing, between the disks 36 and 37, by a bracket 40. Each 1 of the disks 36 and 37 is provided with a plurality of designations and, in the present instance, each disk has a plurality. of openings41 in which is located a disk of translucent material. The openings 41 in the two disks are so arranged that the corresponding openings willsimultaneously aline with the 1 a openin 35 in the front and rear walls of the casing, these latter openings being closed by transparent material 42.- It will be understood, of course, that a single disk or movable member 36 may be employed' The designations carried bythe movable member of the indicator are such-as to indicate .both

the position of the flag and the condition of the extras registering device. To this end the designation 43, which is so located on the movable member thatit will be in line with the opening 35 when the re ist'ering device is in. its zero or home position, consists simply ofa disk of translucent material of a specified color such, for example, as

white or yellow. Arranged within the easing' 34 and, in the present construction, ar-

' fected on the tatable structure, is an electric lamp 44 which, when the circuit is closed through the same, will illuminate the translucent material and cause the same to be exposed to view through the sight opening 35. The circuit for this lamp is controlled by the flag in such a manner that when the flag is in its raised or for hire position the circuit will be broken and the indicator "will not be illuminated. When the flag is pulled, that is, moved to its lowered position, the circuit will be closed through t e lamp and the indicator illuminated. Consequently the illumination of the indicator indicates that the flag is in its lowered position and if the designation. visible through the sight opening does not bear a figure or number it is obvious that, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, no registration has been efextras registering device. The flag controlled circuit breaker and closer may take various forms but, as here shown, Ihave mounted on the frame of the taxi: meter a contact member 45 which is connected with one side of the circuit 46 (Fi 7), leading to a battery 47' or other suitab e source of current. The other side of the circuit is connected with'a contact member 48 rigidl secured to the stud shaft 7 which carries t e flag 5. This contact member is in the'form of a disk a portion of which is cut away, as shown at 49, and the disk is so arranged'that this cut away portion or space 49 will lie adjacent to the contact member 45 when the flag is in its raised position, thus interruptin the circuit. When the flag is pulled the y of the disk will engage the contact member 45 and close the circuit and this contact will be maintained in all positions of the flag until the latter is restored to its normal or elevated position.

The remaining openings 41 (Fig. 4) in the movable member of the indicatorare also closed by disks of translucent material,

as shown at 50. The translucent material in the various openings ispreferably of different colors so that the position of the in-' dicator may be determined by the color of the indication alone, the present instance, provided each of these designations with figures. The figures here shown run from 1 to 5, so that when any designation other than the first, the designation 43, is in line with the sight opening the number of registrations on the. extras registering device will be indicated both by the color of the designation and by the figure which is exposed through the sight opening. The movable member of the indi cator is operatively connected with the actuating device for the extras register so that the osition of the movable member of the indicator will correspond to the position of i the extras registering device. In the resent instance, this connection is established pawl carrier'21.

cam 61 is such that when the nag is in its 1 but we have also, in"

'rmtmg counter 15 to which secured a beveled gear 51 beveled pinion 52 sethrough the we have-rigi ly with which meshes a the movable structure of the indicator. The

ratio of this gearing is such that the movable structure will be advanced a space equal to the distance between the two designations each time the printing counter is advanced one step. Consequently when the first extra is registered the numeral 1 will be moved into indicating'position on the indicator and whenthe second extra is registered the numeral 2 will be moved into indicating position, and so on. In the present instance, we have "provided for the indication of five extras as it is not often that more 1 than that many are registered but it will be obvious that any suitable number of indications may be rovided. The operation of t e extras registering device is controlled by the flag, the arrangement being such thatthis registering device cannot be operated until the flag is lowered and consequently the indicating device'cannot' be moved until the flag is lowered. 95

as that used in ta'ximeters of the type shown. 1 5 I It consists of a cam 56 ri idly mounted on the .fiagoperated setting s aft which is arranged to. engage a projection 57 on the The arrangement of the will engage the proraised position the cam out of enjection and move the pawl 20 gement same a ainst movement. lowere of the projection 57 and the pawl carrier.

and pawl are free to operate. The pawl is prevented firom engaging the rachet wheel and actuating the counter, when released by the lowerin .of secured to t e cam 56 arranged'to engage a projection 59 carried b the pawl, the an rangement being such t at as the cam is When the flag is moved from one position to another it will engage the projection, move the awl to an inoperative osition and hold it in that position until it has mo edpast the tooth on the rachetwheel'. The pin on the cam will then be carried past. the. projection so that the pawl isfree to move into engagement the lamp 44 and will with the ra/chet wheel and lock 'the 70 cured to the lower'end of a shaft 53 the p be accomplished when 9 the cam is moved out of the path flag, by means of a pin 58 with the raehet wheel when actuated by its operating mechanism.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention we wish it to be understood that we do not'desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registering device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuating means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator provided with a plurality of designations, means controlledby said controlling means for said registering device to illuminate a selected designation of said indicator, and means controlled by the actuating means for said registering de vice to select the designation which is to be illuminated.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registering device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuating means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator provided with a plurality of designations any one of which may be moved to indicating position, means controlled by the actuating means for said registering device to move a selected designation into indicating position, and means controlled b the controlling means for said registering evice to illuminate that designation which is in indicating position.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registering device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuating means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator comprising a part having an opening, a movable part having a plurality of designations any one of which may be moved into line with said opening, an

operative connection between said movable -vice,. of an indicator .mounted in said casing,

part and the actuating means for said registering device, and means controlled by said controlling means for said registering device to illuminate the designation which is in line with said opening. I

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registerin device, means for actuating the same, an means other than said actuating means to control the operation of said reglstering decomprising a casing having a sight opening, an electric lamp a circuit for said lamp, a member mounted for movement between said lamp and said sight opening and having a plurality of translucent portions each of which constitutes a different designation, an operative connection between said movable member and the actuating means for said registering device, and means controlled by the controlling means for sald registering device to make and break the circuit through said lamp.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registering device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuatin means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator comprising a part having an opening, an electric lamp arranged in the rear of said part and spaced from said opening, a circuit for said lamp, a member rotatably mounted for movement between said lamp and said opening, said member having a plurality of translucent portions each constituting a diiferent designation, an operative connection between said rotatable member and the actuating means for said registering device, and means controlled by the controlling means for said registering device to make and break the circuit through said lamp.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a registering device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuatin means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator comprising a part having a sight opening mounted adjacent to said part and having on the face thereof a plurality of designations arranged to be moved successively into line with sai opening, and an operative connection between said disk and the operating means for said registering device.

-7. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination device, means for actuating the same, and means other than said actuating means to control the operation of said registering device, of an indicator comprising a part having a sight opening and a disk rotatably mounted" adjacent to said part and having on the face thereof a arranged to be moved successively into line with said openings, an operative connection between said disk and theoperating means for said registering device, and means controlled by the controlling means for said registering device to illuminate that designation which is in line with said opening.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a re istering device, and means for actuating t e same, of an indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, mounted within said casing and having on the face thereof a plurality of desi arranged to be moved successively into line with said sight opening, each of saidde'sigr nat ons being translucent, an o rative connection between said rotatab e part and with a registering and a part rotatably and a disk rotatably plurality of designations ations said actuating means and means arranged in sand casing to lllummate said translucent designations.

9. In a mechanism, of the character described, the combination with a registering device, and means for actuating the same, of an indicator comprising a casing having slight openings in the opposite walls thereof, apair of disks rotatably mounted within said casing and each having a series of translucent portions adaptedto be moved successively into line with the respective sight .openings, the several translucent portions of each disk constituting difi'erent designations, an operative connection between said disks and the actuating means for said registering devices, and a lamp arran ed between said disks in line with sai sight openings.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, a registering device, actuating means therefor and a casing to enclose said registering device and said actuating means, said casin having an extension provided with a sig t opening in the wall thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing and having driving connection with said registering device, a disk rigidl secured to said shaft and having a plura ity .erative connection of trans-c 30 lncent portions adapted to be moved successively into line with said sight opening and each constituting a different designation, and a lamp mounted in said casing to illuminate that translucent ortion of said disk 3 which is in line with sai opening.

11. In a taximeter, a reglsterlng device,

actuating means therefor, a flag to controlv I means for illuminating that designationwhich is in indicating position.

12. In a taximeter, a registering device,.

actuating means therefor, a flag to control the operation of said re movable indicating mem r having a plu rality of designations which are movablesuccessively into indicating position, anopbetween said movable member and said registering device, and means controlled by said flag for illuminating that designation which 1s in indicating position.

In testlmony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

- WILLIAM G. ORTH. GEORGE H. DARST.

istering device, a 1 

